Apparatus for employing kerosene and heavier liquid fuels in internal-combustion engines.



E. B. BENHAM. APPARATUS FOR EMPLOYING KEHOSENE AND HEAVIER LIQUID FUELS IN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.

1,205,565. APPLICATION FILED IULY 9,1913. NOV? 21,

Sin we wto a E. B. BENHAM.

APPARATUS FOR EMPLOYING KEROSENE AND HEAVIER LIQUID FUELS IN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.

PPucATwN FILED JULY 9. m3. Patented NOV- 21, 1916 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- .4 I itzi ...Wm

E. B. YBENHAM. APPARATUS FOR EMPLOYING KEROSENE AND HEAVIER LIQUID FUELS IN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES. APPLICATION HLED JULY 9. 1913.

Patefited Nov. 21, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET wN II liELiiE 2.5; 1112155! 1.51:?

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELIJAH BAILEY BENHAM, on NEW LONDON. CONNEGTICUT, ASSIGNOB NEVINS, or EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY,

TO THCMAS A.

APPARATUS FOR EMPLOYING KEROSENE AND HEAVIER LIQUID FUELS IN INTERNAL- COMBUSTION ,ENGIQTES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 21, 191.6;

To (all whom may comic/m Be it known that I, Eni'JAi-i B. HEM-Inez, a citizen of the United States of Amenca, and'a resident of New London, county of New London, and State of Connecticut, hare invented certain new and useful Apparatus rolatilizcc'l and, to a large extent. converted' into a fixed gas, by the heat of the combustion ofa previous charge and by mixture with a portion of the products of the Combustion oi? such previous charge, such act on taking place'externally of the engine cyhn-- i .der, the resulting gases and vapors being then delivered into thc'cn gi ne cylinder,

lhe engine to be used according to my invcntioninzrv be an engine of many of the well known types of internal combustion entheapparatus required in order that the engine inay operate in accordance with iny inrention being simple and compact and readily applicable topxisting engines. By the means hereinafterdescribed I .am able to operate ordinary internal combustion en since on kerosene and heavier hydrocarbon oils. with high-eliieiency, with great flcxi hility. with, substantially perfcctcombustion, and with entire freedom from formm tion of carbonaceous and tarry deposits, in

tlic engine-cylinder or in otherv portions of tion vwith reference to the accompanyingdrawings, a-ud will. then ppint out the novelfeaturcs' in claims.

In tholdi'awings: Figure 1 shows an axial section of a typical two cycle'internal com" bustion engine, provided with my improved means for the conversion of kerosene and heavier oils into vapor and gas," Fig.' 2 shows a similar scction of a typical fo1ir cycle engine likewise proi-"idedwith my ini proved means for the conversion of oils into" vapor and gas. Fig. 3 is a (non section of a portion of an engine cylinder, showing the 7 said oil conversion apparatus introduced into said cylinder horizontally, instead of verticall} as in 1 and. 2. Fig. A is ajdetail axial sect on, on a larger scale-than Figs. 1 and Lot an engine. cylinder and of'my 011 vaporizing; device in place in said cylinder, Finn 5 shows a transicrse section of the oilraporizing device on the line of Fig. -i. Fig. (l 'is,a View similar to Fig. A, butillustrating the alternative construction of the Vapor-icing.device- Fig. 7 is a detail axial section ola' 'furtlier nlternativeform as removable, though the removabil'ity of the head is immaterial, 3 the usual jacket Space for the circulation of the cooling water,- 4

the usual exhaust port'of atWo cycle engine, 5 the usual transfer port of a two cycle englue, leading from the; crank case or other preliminary compression chamber into'thc engine cylinder at a point where such port will be uncovered by the engine piston-near thelouerend of the stroke of thatpiston-g,v and (i designates the engine piston provided with the'usual deflector 7.

8 designates the gas niakingjd'cvice-itself, such device col'nprising a shell fitted I into a suitable aperture in the engine cylinder and projecting into said cylindera suitable distance. I The upper endof this shell '9 is closed by a jbonnet 1O screivinginto the upper c'ndiof said shell andproviddwith a1 bafllc tube 11 extending through-the shell-9 to near the other end of that-shell; the-tube- 11 beingspaced away somewhat :from the linneirsurface of the shell 9-.-'-I*"1?omthe otlier end of the shell 9 a tube 12 pcojects into the shell 9 and within but spaced away from? thetuhe 1 1. The. tube 12- is scrcu' threadc d into the corn-spending 'cndfof the'jshell,9 ;fl The inner end of the tube 12 is closed,'exc ept for a valve-seated port 13, and a needle valve ll,'mounted in the bonnet 10, controls escape through this port 13. Said needle valve is provided with a recurred flange 15 which deflects into the space between tubes 12 and l1,gases escapingfrom the engine cylinder through valve port 11 The bonnet 10 is provided, on its inner face, with an annular groove 16, and the outer face of the shell 9'is provided with a corresponding registering groove 17, and with a'juel-inlet duct 18 to which a fuel snpp'ypipe 19 connects. The bonnet 10 is also provided with a valve-seated port 20 leading, to a space 21 connected, by duct 22, to theinterior of tube 11, above the needle valve lat; and a check valve 23 is provided for closing the port 20. The lift of this check. valve 23 is regulable by means oi a screw 2-1, and it said screw be turned down suiliciently, the check valve may be.prevented altogether from opening, the screw 2% and checlt valve 23 thereby forming i 1 fuel suppl means for cutting ofl' thesupply of fuel, when desired, as well as for regulating the A pipe 25 leads from the s iacebetween shell 9 and tube 11 to the transfer port 5 of the engine. The engine is provided, C011]- Inonly, as is usual, with a priming cup 26,

which maybe used for the supply to the engine cylinder, when starting, of-a small quantity of highly volatile fuel, such as gasolene. i

The operation of the device is' as follows? Suppose the engine piston 6 to be at about the bottom of its stroke, exhaust port 4 and transfer port fi-being open, the productsof combustion of a previous charge flowmgout through the port 9: and air from the primary compression space or crank case 27 ot the fengine flowing into the engine .cyliin'ler to. permit any considerable portion of them the engine through transfer port 5, gas and vapor pro duced as hereinafter described also flowing through pipe 25 into transfer port 5 and thence into the cylinder; as the piston 6 rises, ports 4 and 5 are closed and the charge of min led air and combustible so introduced nto ,the engine cylinder are compressed, a portion of the charge so compressed passing up through tube 12 and valvefl and thence through'the tortuous passage between tubes .12 and 11 and between tube 11 and shell 9 into pipe 25; but the escape through valve port l3=is too small charge escaping from'the engine cylinder in thls'ivay,

the compression of the charge cylinder tothe desired extent not being substantially interfered with. The portion of the the valve port '13 charge sic-escaping through v and thence through the. space between tubes 12 and 11 is sufit 'cient,however, to induce a flow'of liquid fuel from feed "pipe 19 andinlet duct 18 past the valve 23 and through duct 22 into the space above the cap 15 of the needle" into the space between tubes 12 and 11 is quickly volatilizediandneven converted, in large measure, into fixed betweentubes 12 11 and shell 9 into'the pipe 25 and transfer port 5. This gas making operation. eontinucs during the tip-stroke: of the piston.

, At a suitablefpoint 'in. the upstroke of the pistonor in the ensuing down-stroke the charge is ignited by means of the usualigni tion device-28 of. the enginlnand combustion and expansion of the charge take place in the engine cylinder, the piston moving down ward and, of course, compression of air in the crankcase or primary explosion of the engine. taking place in the ordinary manner. Durjug. this expansion stroke, a portion of the flaming gases the charge. der passes up through-f the tube 9 and port 13, inducing further flow of fuel into the gas making device,- which further' fuel is converted into gas andlvupor inthe same manner. When the piston nears the lower end of its stroke it, 'TmcoWrs-exluMst port '4, and shortly thereafter; transfer. port, 5} the exhausting through port at a new cycleof operations I havent'ound that the engine starts readily with the ntroduction of one priming charge only and. its ignition. 'lE 'liave-found,in ac? tual test of the gas;makingijdc'viceZherein illustrated crates smoothly and "ivjtitlrgreat flexibility and Without smoke. and with of carbonor tarry deposits It isfprobable that theggas varies gas; Such gas and vapor pass through the tortuous passage,

and-ll nnd-betweentube.

or products of combustion of expanding 1 nsuch engine cylln- This completes the cycle of, i

and described ,;-'that-.tl;ie' engine: 01)' out formation orthe like in the gas making device itself on in the en'gine"= Analysis ofthegas-drmvn from wall, over the transfer port and the pipe .tic ally aS high a load, when operated with this gas making device, as when operated on gasolene, and that the fuel consumption is no greater than when the engine is operated upon gasolene.

In Fig.,4 I have indicated means for up plyin' my, improved gas making device to an'alrcady existing engine cylinder; to this end a. hole of suitable size is bored in the engiiie cylinder or cylinder: head at a "suitable point. and an annular plug ot'cement 29 is formed around this hole, to prevent the escape of cooling, water, a bushing 30 being introduced into this hole so formed in the engine cylinder and being, held in place by a nut 31. The shell 9 of the gas making device S is then screwed into tbis'bushi'ng 30. A suitable hole is also bored in the cylinder connected to such hole and to the gas making device, asshown in the drawings.

I have found that the bushing 30 and the cement plug, 2E) effectively close the water jacket, so that no leakage of'water occurs. In the case oi engines.constructed to employ this gas making device,- the use of .the

cement plug 29 and bushing 30 is of course unnecessary, the shell 9 screwing directly into a suitable hole formed in. the engine cylinder, as illustratedinFig. 6. The particular position of the gas making device in the engine cylindeni's notimportant, as I have found that such gas niakiiig" device works effectively in a l'i orizo'ntal position or in an inclined position, or even in an inverted position'. In Fig. 3 I show said gas making device inserted into the engine cylinder through the side of the cylinder instead of through the head as in lii'gs. 1, 4t and'fl.

l deem it desirable to employ porous material within athc gas making-device to controtand modify the gas forniati( i1, asset tortlr particularly in my -U.- S.' Patents Nosl 920,9D2"), (late l May 11, 1909, and 1,000,768,

dated August 18,1911.. .ln l ig. (l I hat-ein dichted. one such layer of porous-material in the space between tube ll'and shell 9, and in .Fig. 7 l have indicated other layers of porous material, 33, in the space between tubes 11 and12.

Myvinve ntion is not limited to use with engines of the'twocycle. type, butis equally applicable to -use with four cycle. en ines, in V (1. se .=the"pipe 2-) may ie connected to the mixing; valve 34 or other intake device of the engine as illustrated in Fig. 2.

-VVl1atI claim is f .1. The combination, with an internal conibustionengine'ha-ving a. :ylinder, of a cham-' bar so situated within the combustion space of such-cyhnde as tobc surrounded and heated'liy the hot gases 1FSl1Ol1';()ll'il)1lSlil()Il space during the combustion period therein. such chamber provided with fuel admission means, with a discliarge outlet external to said cylinder, and with means for the projection of gas under pressure from such-engine cylinder througlrsaid chamber to said outlet, and a duct connecting the said outlet I to the fuel inlet connectionof the engine.

2. The combination, with an internal com bust-ion enginc'lgaving a cy1inder,of a chamber seated in an aperture of said cylinder and projecting into the combustion space. of such cylinder, and arranged to be heated by' combustion within said combustion space, said chamber provided with a fuel inlet and with an outlet connection, the latter external to said enginecylinder, and with means for the projection of gas under pressure "from said cylinder through said chamber to said outlet, and a duct connecting the said outlet to the fuel intake of the engine.

3. The combinatiomwith an internalcombust-ion engine having a cylindenof a chamher so situated within the combustion space of said cylinder as to be heated by combustion within said space, said chamber provided with a fuel inlet connection and with a. discharge connection, a battle within said chamber torminga tortuous open passage between said fuel inlet and said. outlet, means for projecting gas under pressure from said cylinder along said baille in the direction of [low of the fuel from said inlet to said outlet, and a ductconnecting said outlet to the fuel intake of the engine.

L. The combination,with-an internal c'ombastion engine having; a cylinder, of a chain ber seated in an aperture .in said. cylinder and projecting, in'tothe combustion space of- ,said cylinder, S2ll(.l (.l1t\l'l'll)(2 1' provided with afuelinlet and with an outlet, a' baflle in said chamber between said fuel inlet and outlet, :1 tubefprojecting'into said chamber from the'en rine cylinder, and open at its cylinder endan'd provided at its opposite end with a' port, means for deflecting gas flm-ving' from said "tube into said chamber along aht-battle and in the direction ofthe flow of fuel tromsaid inlet to-sa-idoutlet anda duct connecting saidgoutlet-tc the; fuel; intake of the engine.

5. The colnl "nation,with an internal co1nbastion-engine having a cylinder, of a charm ber seated in an aperture of 'said cylinder and projecting into the combustion space of said cylinder, a tube extending frointhe sin-projecting end of said chamber into the chamber, said tube open at its'engine-cylinder end. and ju'ovided at its otherend with avalve-port. a valve; regulatingflowthrough said port, said chamber provided with a fuel inlet and with an outlet (301111661- tion,: a li'allle within said chainbe'- and surrounding said tube. aiul'spaced away from both s- -l i'ube and said cl'ia'mber, and forming, with the tube and chamber, a tortuous passage for the How of fluid from said inlet to said outlet, means for causing gas-under pressure passing from said cylinder through Said tube'and port to flow through said tor tuous passage in thedirection of flow of fuel from said inlet to said outlet, and a duet connecting; said outlet to the fuel in-' take of the engine, I i 6. The cornb1natioii,'with the cylinder of an internal combustion engine, of a fuelheating device projecting through an apex turecf saicl'cylinder into the combustion space-of said cylinder, and provided with a fuel inlet and with an outlet connection and with means cbnv'erting the interior of said-chamber into a-tortuous passage leading from said inlet to said outlet connection, means for projecting gas under pressure from said engine cylinder through said tor-,

tuous' passage from a point near said inlet to said outlet connection, and a duct connecting said outlet connection tothe fuel intake of the engine cylinder.

'i'. A fuel heating device for internal coinbustion en ines coin Jl'lSll'l a chamber adapted for location within the combustion space of fllLllltBIllitl COITlbllStlOIl engine, and provided near one end, with an outlet connection, the bafil'e tube within said chamber spaced away from the: walls thereof and 'converting the interior of said chamber into said inlet to said outlet, hothsaid outleta tortuous passage. leading from said inlet to said outlet, and means for pro ecting gas under pressure through said tortuous passage in the dircctimr-of flow of fuelfroin' connection and-the inlet to the means for projecting gas as specified being located to be extcirnal'to the engine cylinder when the fuel heating device is attached to an engine cylinder.

A fuel heating device foiinternal combustion.cngines, comprising in combination a chamber adapted for location within 'the combustion space of an internal combustion engine and having near one'cnil a fuel inlet and-an outlet connection a battle within said chamber converting the interior of said chamber into a tortuous passage leading from said'inlet ,to said outlet, :1 tube extending from the other end of said chainiher into said clianibei',.said tube open at its outer end iind provided with. a, port through-which gas under pressure may flgiw..

into said passage.

9. fuel heating device for internal combustion engines, comprising in coinbination a chamber adapted for location within the combustionspace of an internal coinbustioii'ngine and havingnca-r one end a fuel inlet and an outlet'connection, a. battle with in: said chamber converting the interior of, saidchiunbei' into a tortuous passage lead ing from said inlet to said outlet, a tube extending from the other end of saidchamher into said chamber, said tube open at its outerend .and provided with a port throughwhich gas under pressure may flow into said passage, and ,mcans'for causing gas-entering said port to flow through said tortuous passage 1n the direction of fi'o ia of fuel from sa d inlet to said outlet;

10. A fuel heating device for internal combustion engines, comprising in combination a chamber adapted for location within the combustion space of an internal coinhustion engine and having within it a return bend fuel, passage together with a; fuel inlet and anoutlct for said assage, and means for projecting gas un e'r pressure through said tortuous passage in thedirection" of said outlet.v

11. A fuel.v heating device for internal combustion engines, comprisinga chamber adapted for location within. thelcornbustion space of an internal combustion engine and having within it a return bend fuel passage and a fuel-inlet and an outlet for said passage, and means for projectin gas under pressure from an engine cylin or to which said fuel heating device may beconnected, through said passage in the direction of the outlet, comprising a port in a. portion of said chamber which is within such coinbustion chamber when such fuel heating device is in place in an engine cylinder.

12.- A fuel heating device forinternal combustion engines, comprising in combinabustion engine, and having a fuel; passage within it and a fuelinletand an outletfor said passage,- a tube projecting into said chamber. from a portionjqoi the chamber which is within the engine cylinder when such fuel heating deii cefis' in place in an engine cylinder, saidtnbe provided tit-fa point well within said chamb er with-aport 'adapte d for'connectingthe engine cylinder to the interior of said chambe1j=,.and a valve 125:. l

controlling fiowzthrough such port'i" 1 4.. A fuel heatingf-device v-for internal combustion engines, comprising in. combiniitiona chamber a'daptednforlocation within the combust on space of an internal coinpressionfchamber toi the engii' bustion engine, and having a fuel passage within it and a fuel inlet and an outlet for said iaesage, a tube projecting into said chain er from a oortion of the chamber which is within theengine cylinder when such fuel heating device is in place in an -in the direction of flow of fuel from the fuel.

inlet to the outlet of such chambeiu 15. A fuel heating device for internal combustion engines comprising in (.Ombll'lHr tion a chamber adapte-rl for location within the combustion space of an internal combustion engine and 'l 1a in;; fuel inlet and an outlet and a tubular ballle between said in let and outlet dividing the interior of said chamber into a tortuous passage leading from said fuel inlet to said outlet, a tube projecting into said chamber from a portion of said chamber which is within the engine cylinder when said fuel heating device is in place in an engine cylinder, sa d tube provided fatf a point well 'within said chamber witlra. port leading into said tortuous passage, and a valve regulating flow through said port, and provided with a deflector arranged to deflect gases passing from-the engine cylinder through said port through said tortuous passage in the direction. of flow of the fuel-from the fuel inlet 'to the outlet of such passage.

16.. The coinbii'iation, with an internal combustion engine having an engine cylin-- Lder and compression chamber and means for supplying comp-ressedair to said cylinder comprising a transfer portleading, from sue compression chamber to the engine cylinder, of a fuel heatingdevicecomprising a chamber located. within the'conihustion space of said engine-cylinder." and having a fuel inlet and an outlet both. externalto said engine cyl nder, and a duct COIIDBUtlIlg the outlet of said chan'iber to said transferflport.

1 7.' The combination, witha n internal-cone bu's tio'nengine having an engine eylind i and compression chamber and means for supply.-

- ing compressed fair to said cylinder comprismg a transfer port leadingfromsuch comcylmder, of

fuel heating. device comprisinga chain- P ber l0cated within combustion-space of sand en'gn' e cylinder and having a fuel inlet andanoutlet both external to said engine I cylinder and nieanszforpermitting gas under'pressureto flow from said engine cylinder into sai'd'cha-mber, anda duct connecting theT utletofsaid chamber to said transfer port. I I

18. A fuel heating attachment for internal combustion engines, comprising a chamber adapted to be connected to a' suitable port. of'an enginecylinder for circulation of hot gas from such cylinder in heat exchanging relation to said chamber, said cha 'nber provided with a fuel inlet and a fuel .outlet, each in a portion of the chamber which is arranged to be external tothe engi'ne cylinder, said, chamber provided with a port leading from a portion of the wall (if-such chamber which is within the, engine cylinder when the device is in use, into the interior of said chamber, through which port gas under pressure may pass from such engine cylinder into such chamber 1.). A fuel heating attachment for internal combustion engines, comprising a chambcr adapted to be connected to a suitableport of an engine cylinder for circulation of hot gas from such cylinder in heat exchangcylinder when the device is in use.

20. A fuel heating attachment for internal comluistion engines, comprising a-chamber adapted to be connected to asuitable port of an engine cylinder, for circulation of hot gas from said. cylinder in heat exchanging relation to said chamber, said chamber provided with a .tube projecting from the end of'si clh ch a mlier which willbe nearest the engine cylinder into the cln n'ib'er, such tube being open at itsouter end andfprovided at, its inner end with a port connecting with theii'iterior of such chamber.

21. A fuel heating attachment for internal combustion engines, con'iprisingf a-chamber adapted to be connected toa suitable poi-tel an engine cylinder, for circulation of hot gasfro n saidcylinder in heatexchanging relation to said chamber, said chamber provided with. a tube project-- i??? f'rom the end of such chamber which will benearest'theuengine cylinder into the chamber, such tube being openatjtsouter I20.

port of an engine cylinder, for circulation I of hot gas from such cylinder in heat exchanging relation to such chamber, said chamber provided with a fuel inlet and a fuel outlet each in a portion of the chamber which is arranged to be external to the engine cylinder, and with an open valveless passage connecting said inlet and outlet, and further provided with a check valve for the said inlet which check valve is arranged to be opened by suction produced within the chamber.

, 23. A fuel heat-ing'attachment for inter nal combustion engines, comprising a charmv her adapted for insertion through'a suitable port of an'engine cylinder, such chamber provided at an intern'iedi'ate point with means for forming a. joint with the wall of the engine cylinder, i'rher'eby a portion of the chamber may project into theengine cylinder and a portion of the chamber may remain-external to the engine cylinder, said chamber provided, in such external portion, with a fuel inlet' and with a fuel outlet, both connecting with the interior of such chamber, and being also provided with a port, located in a portion of such chamber which is within the engine cylinder when the device is in use, which port is adapted for the low of gas from said cylinder into such chamber.

24. A fuel heating attachment for internal combustion engines, comprising achambcr adapted for insertion throi'igha suitable port of an engine cylinder, such chamber provided at an intermediate point with means for forming a' joint with the wall of the engine cylinder, whereby a portion of the chamber may proJect into the englne cylinder and a portion of the chamber may remain external to the engine cylinder, said chamber provided, in such external portion,

with a fuel inlet and with a fuel outlet, both connecting with the interior ofsuch chain her, said chamber further provided with.

means located in a portion of sucli chamber which iswithin the enginemylinder'when the device is in use, for the-projection of gas under pressure from such engine cylinder into theinterior of such chamb' toward the outlet thereofi.

25. A fuel heajting attachment for internalcombustion engines,comprising a. chamber adapted for connectionto a suitable port of an engine cylinder, for circulation of hotgas from such cylinder into heat exchanging relation, to such chamber, said chamber valve, and with a fuel outlet, and with provided with a fuel inlet havingv a check open valveless return bend passage connecting said inlet and outlet, said chamber fur- ,"ther provided 'with means for the projection ofgas under pressure, from a-n'engine cylinder to which suchchamb'er may be conther provided with means for' -inducing flow of fuel throughsuch passage by thesindue-flm tiveaction' of gas underpr essiireflowing' 1 er and nected, through such passage toward said outlet. a 26. A fuel heating attachment for internal combustion engines, comprising a chamber adapted for connection to asuitable port of an engine cylinder, for circulationf of hot gas from such cylinder into heat. eXchnJlg mg relation to such ch amber, sa1d chn'mber provided with a fuel lnlet' 113 3111 9 :1 check valve and with a fuel outlet, and with an open valveless return-bend passage connecting said inlet and outlet, said chamber fur,

ther provided with means fortlrcvproi'oetionof gas under pressure, from anfengine cyl+ inder to which such chamber'may be: connected, through such passage toward said outlet, the device being devoid of. automatic valves other than such check valve.

27. A fuel heatingattachment-for internalcombustion engines, comprising schember arranged to be heated by hot; gases from the cylinder-Dian engine to whichflthe device may be attached, such, chai iiberhprovided with a fuel inlet and atrial outlet, and a passage connecting the same, and further provided With means for inducing flow of fuel through'such passage by the inductive action of gas under pressure flowing through such passage. v

28. A fuel heating attachmentfo'r internal combustion engines, comprising a cham her arranged to be. heated by -hot;gases from the cylinder of an engine towliich thedevice may be attached,'such chamber -prol rider] within fuel inlet and ya' fuel outlet, and a passage connecting the same, and furthrough such' passage, said chamber further provided with a valve for said-inlet.

29. A fuel heating attachment gforinternal combustion engines, comprising. a chamber arranged to'be heat-ed by hot gases from: the cylinder of an'engine to which the'device may be attached, such charnber fprovided with a fuel inlet and af fuliiutletfflc specification in the" presence'of ftwo 's'ub- 12 0 

